Singapore Politics & Ethics: Parliament will debate claims that civil servants bought properties near future MRT stations, with MPs asking how safeguards work for officers with market-sensitive access and whether asset-declaration rules should expand to family members and co-habitants. Public Service & Tech: GovTech’s FirstDate dating app is being piloted for eligible public service officers, using a values-and-habits questionnaire plus a stable-matching algorithm to reduce “too many options” decision fatigue. Culture & Community: Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome is now a Portugal-themed sunflower showcase, with a one-day Experience Portugal programme featuring food and wine tastings, movie screenings, folk dance, poetry readings, and a photography exhibition linking Portuguese and Singapore communities. Food Heritage: Hohhot’s Shaomai Festival drew crowds during the National Day holiday, spotlighting the dumpling’s 700-year roots and boosting local dining revenue via vouchers and street activity. Cross-Border Life in Singapore: ICA, Singapore Customs and police caught seven travellers in a week-long operation for undeclared cash above $20,000, reminding travellers to file electronic declarations via MyICA. Film Industry & Safety: South Korea’s film sector rallied behind cast and crew of “The Assassin(s)” after threats linked to the drama’s historical portrayal, urging debate to stay focused on the work, not individuals. Regional Geopolitics: China opened a new joint military training and logistics facility in Laos, deepening its security footprint in mainland Southeast Asia. Global Governance Debate: A Global Governance Initiative marks a push from principles to “concrete action,” arguing multilateral mechanisms need reform amid rising unilateralism and protectionism.